Flap opener apparatus



Aug' 24, 1965 R. w. MCGILL 3,201,916

FLAP OPENER APPARATUS Filed Oct. 50, 1961 5 SheetS-Sheet l FIGI INVENTOR. ROBERT VV. MCGILL Www W ATTYS.

Aug. 24, 1965 R. w. MCGILL 3201915 FLAP OPENER APPARATUS Filed Oct. 30, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 F IG.2

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JNVENTOR. ROBERT W. MCGILL ATTYS Aug. 24, 1965 R. w. MGGlLL FLAP OPENER APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 30, 1961 e NR;

JNVENroR. ROBERT W MC GILL ATTYS.

Aug. 24, 1965 R. w. MCGILL FLAP OPENER APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sl'lee'l'I 4 Filed Oct. 30, 1961 JNVENTOR. ROBERT W. MCGILL AT T YS.

Aug. 24, 1965 R. w. MCGiLL FLAP OPENER APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 30. 1961 JNVENTOR. ROBERT W. MC GILL ATT YS.

Unted States Patent O The present .invention relates to flap opening apparatus, land specifica'lly to apparatus for opening the leading or 'any one flap or end of a case, as such case is positioned for case filling action.

In the food and beverage industries today, very large quantities of packaged containers, or articles are processed every day. In many instances, it is -desirable to package these articles, such =as canS, bottles, j'ars, or the like, in cardboard boxes that have side fiaps on opposed parallel edges thereof .and .a pair of opposed end fiaps to cover the contents of 'the vcase after it has been filled. The rfilling of these cases is primarily done by some type of automatic processing machinery. Thus the empty cases are fed into the machine and are led through the machine in a controlled path. Usualfly the cases have their end and side flaps in closed position when the case is fed into the apparat'us, and the apparatus may provide some type of conventional means, such as a plow, for engaging the side flaps and opening such side fiaps to .start .to present the interior of the case for article reception. However, it is more diflicult to pull the closed leading end flap fortwardly of the case as it is moving along, or positioned in the apparatus. The trailing end flap |of a case usually can be opened by any of a variety of means so as to pull such end flap out of lthe open top of the case prior to article deposit.

Some types of leading end flap opening means or apparatus have been provided heretofore, but, insofar as I 'am aware, no completely satisfactory flap opener has been developed for all case filling app'aratus. The apparatus .as used .heretofore may have been too complicated, or it may have not functioned rapidly enough for many case 'iilling actions, or the prior app'ar-atus may be objectionablefor other reasons, such as being noisy, bumpy, 'by requiring a great deal of maintenance thereon, etc.

The general object of the present invention is to provide a novel :and iinproved flap opening apparatus of the class described and .where such flap opening apparatus is characterized by the rapid, sequence Controlled, positi've acting flap opening action obtained.

Another object is to provide a flap opening apparatus that is readily attachable to article or |case filling apparatus of previous construction.

Another object of the invention is to provide .a leading end flap opener case filling apparatus and where such end fflap opening means may include a pivota'lly positioned 'arm carried on a slidable block positioned on the appa- 'ratus whereby the pivotally positioned arm, which has a plunger thereon extendaible to engage an end flap, can be swung through an arc for end flap opening action.

Another object of the invention is to provide end flap l.opening apparatus of the class described where cushion means are provided in the apparatus to reduce impact and jars in the apparatus when a control member therein is moved to extreme positions, and where a slide member is locked in the app-aratus at .one end of its slide movernent while other flap opening actions occur in the apparatus.

Another object of the invention is to provide flap opening apparatus of .the class described `and where the apparatus is made from a minimum Vof moving parts and where the app-aratus is sturdily built and constructed to have a long service life with a minimum of maintenance and to have a sutficiently rapid rate of cyclic operation as to be 3 ,2 i ,9 i 6 Patented Aug. 24, 1965 ICC used with case filling apparatus processing as many as about 30 cases per minute.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be made more apparent as the specification proceeds.

Attention now is particularly directed to the .accompanying drawings, where:

PIG. 1 is a fragmentary elevation of case packing apparatus having an end flap opening means embodying the principles of the invention associated therewith;

PIG. 2 is a fragmentary lenlarged end elevation taken on line 2 22 of FIG. l;

PIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation of the flap opening apparatus embodying the principles of the present invention and shown with its cover removed;

PIG. 4 is a rear, or back elevation of the flap opening a-pparatus of .the invention;

PIG. 5 is a .fragmentary end elevation of the flap opening means of the invention;

`PIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary Vertical section taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 4;

AFIG. 7 is a fragmentary Vertical section taken on line 7-7 of FIG. 6;

4`FIG. 8 Vis a Vertical section taken on line 8-8 of FIG. 6 to show the control cam or member for limiting arcuate movement of the flap opening arm;

PIG. 9 is a fragmentary Vertical section taken on line 9-9 of FIG. 6; and

FIGS. 10 and ll are partial side views showing the arm and guide .block shown in FIG. 4.

When referring to corresponding members shown in the drawings and referred to in the specification, corresponding numerals are used to facilitate comparison therebetween.

In general, the present apparatus is used in combination with a case packer or the like that deposits articles into a positioned carclboard lcase with a closed leading end flap thereon hingedly connected lto the case, and the novel apparatus includes a guide means operatively positioned adjacent a positioned case and parallel .to the aXis thereof, flap opening means carried by the guide means and movab'le 'therealong parallel to the `axis of the positioned case, 'which flap opening means has a portion engageable under a closed end flap, means operatively controlling the flap opening means and movin-g it to insert it under a closed end flap and then moving .the flap opening means arcuate'ly towards the flap hinge to swing the flap through a forward iarc to open 'the closed end flap, and lock means engaging the last-named means to prevent forward .arcu- |ate movement of the flap opening means until the flap opening means reach an extreme position on the guide means. The present apparatus is particularly .adapted for use with article or case packing apparatus as disclosed in pending U.S. patent application Serial No. 846,683, en- |titled Bottle Caser Apparatus, filed October 15, 1959, by Bruce G. Copping.

Case packer apparatus Reference is now made tothe details of the construction shown in the drawings, and a portion of a case packe'r apparatus, as specifically described and disclosed in said co-pending application, is shown. This apparatus includes a frame 1 along which a plurali'ty .of cardboard cases, or equivalent cases lor boxes or the like 2, are adapted to be fed by a conveyor 3 until they reach a case fi'lling station indicated at S in the drawings adjacent an end of the (frame ,1. Any suitable means, not shown, may be associated with the conveyor 3 for plowing, or otherwise opening the side ilaps 4 and 5 of the case and with the leading end flap 6 of the case as moved along the conveyor normally being in a closed position when it reaches the station S. This end flap 6 is hinged'ly connected to the remainder of the case 2, and because of the natural resiliency in the material from which .the case 2 i-s rn'a'de and v in the fold of the end flap, no'rmally this closed leading end fiap 6 doeslex`ten d upwardly Vat arsligh't angle'soLthat its free endis positioned sli-ghtly above the adjacent Vertical margins of the. side portionsof the case. At thecas'eV filling station S,la suppont'platform or plate 7 is provided i tubes 29 and 3d, whichtubes are suitably secured to and 'extend between the support plates 29 and 21 to form a sturdy, operative appar'atus assembly. The conduits 32 and 33 have suitable known adjustable valve members 34 onto which the case 2 is deposited, and this Vsupport .plat- 'form 7 is contro'lled by va sHitabIemGmbeI, such as a lift cylinder 8, that has apiston rod or ram 9 extending therefrom and positioning the support' platform 7.

The casefilling apparatus with which the apparatus of the invention is used V(FIG. V1) also includes an upper frame section ltl onto which a plurality of articles, suchV ``as iilled bottles, cans, or the like, can be led into a gridior case fillingassembly section 11 from which the articles can be dropped through a plurality of spring fingersV 12 'to be received in one of the cases 2 when on thesupport platform 7.- The actual article dropping operation may be performed, for example, by raising the support platform 7 and the case thereon uprto a position imme'diately below the fingersl li2at which time articles will bedropped therein which may be adjustableorilfice control valves or i air checks to provide 'a slow ,release ofV air therethrough in one direction and free fiow of air therethrough' in the V other direction for supply of pressure to the conduits 27 and 28 for an actiontobe hereinafter described in more detail. The air cylinder 25 has a conventional air cushion vmeans (not shown) builtV therein to provide a slowrein. o The adjustablevalves 34 preferably are connected in down into the case'to fill it, after such articles -have been arrang-edV iniproper 'case filling positions on :the grid V1 1 in any conventionalmanner.`

The support platform 7 may be reinforced tioning and movernent byl a pair of laterally' extending in its posithefiexhaustV conduits-for air flow 'from the cylinder forcontrolled air flow and to permit pressure fiow readily inthe directions indicated,`

VAs a particular importantjfeature ,of the invention, the

r arm 23 carries members thereon and-has controlled move- L rnentrby which the leading end fiap 6' of a case 2V can be opened in -a rapid, automaticmanner. To this end, the

' arm 23 'has al double'acting cylinder secured thereto ears, orrsupport plates 13 and Mthat engage suitable i members, such as vertically extending'slides 15'on the.,H

i frame 7 soV that the plates 13 and 14 and slides 15 aid in maintainingthe support platform 7 centered for r'eciprocating movementwith the piston rod 9 andV the means carried thereby. r

Flplp `Ope'nlz'n'g apparztus The Vactual fiap opening apparat'us of the inventionV is indicated'a's a wholeV by'the numeralV V16 and` it isposia tioned under a cover 116 in FIG. l. FIGS 2 andr3. show'V that the fiap opening apparatus 16 includes a pair o f `sup- 7 port rods 17,?17 that are secured,l for example, to the plate 13 for vertical'movement of the fiap opening apparatus with the support platform `'V7 as the case filling action is to be obtained; Thersupport arms'17,-17 engage with ,a' suitable membenwsuch as a frame or carrier block'll8, at their upper ends, which frame or carrier block has guide rods 19, 19'suitably secured thereto and extending axially therefrom in lbothV directions.

such case adjacent the leading end thereof. The guides 19 preferably have support plates 20 and 21secured to the ends thereof to form a support' for Other po rons of i i 23-is indicated in dotted lines at Z, whereas the upstream position of thearm 23 at its operative, or other extrernthe flap opening apparatus 16. -jThese' guides 19, 19 also have a slide member, or block 22slidab1y engaged therewith for movement intermediate one end of `the framel block 18 and the supportrplate 21 thereadjacent. The slide member has an arm 23 pivotally secured. thereto by a shaft 24 so that' the arm 23 has vpivotal movement in a plane parallelto -but offset from the longitudinal Vaxis j of the positioned case at'the case filling station.

Control. of slide member: mqvement .Such guides 19, 19 are parallel to the longitudinal axis of the,`

positioned lcase 2; at the station S, but are offset from V VMovement of the slide block 22 is provided, forex''v w ample, by adouble acting cylinder 25 secured tothe support plate 20.V The cylinder 25 has a piston-(not shown) therein connecting to a pistonlrod ,26 that extendsitherefrom and connects to theV slideblock 22. The action of the piston in the cylinder 25 is controlledl by the supply of suitable pressure means thereto, for example, air, r through a pair of conduitsr27-.and 28 that connects toop'- posite ends of the cylinder 25. The conduit 27 connectsl as `the other stopV shoulderf42Lwillfengagejthe shoulder 43 and extending subvstantially'normally therefrom. This cylinderv 35 has a plunger 36 received therein and having an Voperative extended position, vas indicated in dotted Vlines in FIG. 5, and having a retract'ed position, as shown in solid'lines, The plunger 36 preferably has a .pointed 'end 37 to facilitate the plunger sliding in 'under va leading endfiap 6 to aid in raising'it vertically upwardly to swing it about its -hinge'on'the case, as hereinafter described. i

FIG. Zbrings out the fact how the plunger 36, when extended, willflbe operatively' engagedwith and overlap the leading endfiap ofrthe (case; .The actual recipro- 'cation' of the plunger 36 v'is obtained by pressure means from tubes 38 and 39 whichconnect the opposite ends of the cylinder 35 to' the conduits 32V and 33. Hence when air pressure is supplied to the conduitf27, the tube 38 will have air pressure supplied thereto to cause the plunger 3'to movevto its extended, operative position, landV with the-tube V3,9,Vwhen energized concurrently with the conduit 28 for returnrnovement of the slide member '22, Vcaus'ing the plunger V36 to be returned to its retracted,

' inoperative position.

'z The actionrofrthe arm'23' 'is shown in PIG. 3 where the retracted upstream dir-ected' positioning of the arm with-limited arcuatejmovem'ent by means of a substantiallly`V-shaped stop 40, which has Shoulders 41 and 42 provided thereomforrned on'a'control disc 40a. The disc V40av is carried by the sha-ft 24 and is adaptedto rotate With reference vto a rhorizontally. dirccted `shoulder 43 Vformedl on one lateral'lmargin of the lslidernember 22. Thus the' shoulder 41'will en'gage the shoulder 43 at the 'retracted position for. the arm 22, as indicated at Z, wherewhenthe arms-has beeninoved torits opposite extreme to `an air supply line 29 while the conduit 28 connects to an air supply line 30,1respectively. `VAirl or' simila'r'fluid under pressure is supplied to these lines 29 and 30 by airV f supply means 31 andr3'1a connecting to conduits 32Vand ff 33, rcspectively; .The conduits32 and 33; connect tothe' I position facing upstreamrin the apparatus,` as `indicated in solid lines'in FIG. 3. V i

AAs the one piston-rod 262controls the position of the slide member 22 on the guides119, v-19' and also' functions to pivot thearm 23V on the shaft 24, another feature of the Vinvention resiides in providingV a lock-plate.44, FIG 4,"in operative association'with the shaft 24 at the end .thereof remote from that, engaging 'thefarrn 23. Such lock plate 44 has a keyhole shape slot 45 provided therein that has an enlarged head or end 46 formed therein. A guide block 47 is provided on and secured to the shaft 24 and has a pair of parallel, outwardly facing surfaces 48, 48 formed thereon to be slidably engaged with the slot 45 for the uniform width portion thereof. However, the surfaces 48, 48 terminate in arcuately shaped segments or sections 49 which will rotatably engage the slot end 46. Thus, by observing the relationship of the control disc 46a with relation to the shoulder 43 formed on the slide member 22, it will be seen that the piston rod 26 is continually urging the shaft 24 to turn in an arcuate direction for pivotal movement of the arm 23 to its downstream inclination or positioning.

It will be noted that the control disc 40a is secured to the control arm 23 by a pair of cap screws 5d, Si) or the Vlike adjacent the lower end of the arm, that extend through spacer sleeves 50a, 56a to space the arm and disc V from each other. The control disc 46a also is secured to `the end of the piston rod 26 by a suitable cap screw or bolt 51 which extends through a bushing or spacer sleeve in a clevis, or block, 26a secured to the piston rod 26 to p engage the arm 23.

FIGS. and 11 best show how this guide block 47 Vwill slide along in the slot 45 for the initial sliding movevit may be used with a case filling apparatus that, for example, may be filling 30 cases per minute.

Naturally the action of the flap opening apparatus 16 must be such as to present the case 2 for filling action through the grid 11 at an early portion of each operative cycle before articles are ready for drop through the grid. To this end, the entire movement of the slide member 22 on the guides and the pivotal movement of the arm 23 from a downstream inclination to an upstream inclination should occur in about between .2 and .3 of a second. Next the apparatus might have a dwell of, for example, about .3 second and then the arm 23 and the slide member 22 may both be returned to the inoperative positions in, for example, approximately 1% seconds while the case filling action is occurring and a new case is being received on the support platform '7.

- FIGS. 1 and 3 of the drawings best show that the flap opening apparatus 16 of the invention also has associated with it some suitable member, such as a guide flap or plate 52, having an upwardly inclined end 52a, which is suitably secured to a Companion guide plate 53 for case side flap guide action. The guide plate 53 is operatively associated with and carried by the support plates 24) and 21. The guide plates 52 and 53 are so positionedV that, as the case 2 is moved into the case filling station S by the conveyor 3 of the apparatus, the side flap 4 of the case will be engaged by the upwardly inclined section 52a of the guide plate 52 and lead such edge flap into a substantially horizontal position intermediate these plates 52 and 53. Such action faclitates positioning the carrier arm 23 and the cylinder and plunger 37 extending therefrom to extend in above but adjacent the side upper margin4 of the case for convenient engagement with the leadrwhich the flap opening means is associated. Hence, a

control timerl disc, or plate (not shown) can be provided on the apparatus drive shaft, or control shaft in the same manner as the control cams or discs shown in the aboveidentfied co-pending application of Bruce G. Copping showing more details of the apparatus with which the apparatus of the present invention is associated when operatively positioned.

By the present apparatus, it is believed that a new and improved type of a case flap opening action has been provided and that this case flap opening action is positively obtained by a controlled operation in proper sequence in the case filling action. The plunger 36 may engage under a case flap when initially extended, or when moved along on the slide block 22. The apparatus can function eifectively over a long service life and provide excellent results with no damage to any of the cases being processed, or filled in the apparatus of the invention. It is in the scope of the invention to cushion the final movement of the piston in the cylinder 25 in both directions. Obviously the flap opening apparatus can be adapted for use with cases of various sizes for receiving any type of articles, bottles, or other containers, as desired. Hence it is believed that the objects of the invention have been achieved. I

While one complete embodiment of the invention has been disclosed herein, it will be appreciated that modification of this particular embodiment of the invention may be resorted to without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Flap opening apparatus for combination and use with means for positioning a cardboard case with a leading end flap thereon in a relatively fixed position and comprrsmg frame means positioned adjacent the relatively fixed position for a case,

a guide member operatively carried by said frame means and positioned parallel to the longitudinal axis of a case,

a slide member operatively carried by said guide member for limited axial movement on the frame means,

an arm pivotally carried by said slide member for movement parallel to the longitudinal axis of a case and having limited arcuate movement parallel to said case axis,

a double acting cylinder carried by said arm and having a plunger with an extended and a retracted position,

said cylinder extending normal to the longitudinal axis of said arm and being positioned to have said plunger engage in under the closed leading end flap of a positioned case when said plunger is extended in one extreme position of said arm,

a second double acting cylinder having a controlled piston rod operatively carried by said frame and operatively engaging said arm by said piston rod to move said arm axially of said frame on said slide member and to move said arm pivotally from its said one position to its other extreme position and to swing said case flap to an open position by such movement, and

means operatively engaging said arm to prevent pivotal movement thereof until said slide member at least approaches a limit of movement away from said second named cylinder.

2. Flap opening apparatus for combination and use with means for positioning a cardboard case with a closed leading end flap and open side flaps thereon, which apparatus comprises frame means adjacent the positioned case,

a guide member operatively carried by said frame means and positioned parallel to the longitudinal axis of a case,

a slide member operatively carried by said guide member for limited movement thereon adjacent the leading end of a positioned case,

an arm pivotally carried by said slide member for movement parallel to the longitudinal axis of a case and having limited arcuate movement on the arm axis from an upstream inclined to' a `dovvnstre'a'm in`- clined position, i

a double'acting cylinder carried on said arm and having a plunger with an extended ,and a r'etracted position,

said cylinderiextending Vsubstantially `norrnallyto the said arm axiallyv of: said frame on said slide Vmem-.

ber, and to move said arm piv'otallyV from its'upstream to its downstream inclined position and to i swing said case flap to an open position, andi means operatively engaging said arm to preventpivotal movement thereof until saidv slide member at least approaches a lirn'i'tzof movementaway'from'said lsecondnamedcylindera f i 3.' In combination with, aizcae'packer or the like that i deposits articles into a lstationarily positioned cardboard case'with a closed'leadngend flap'thereon hingedly con-V -nectng to the case, i

a stationary guide means operatively positioned adjacentapositioned case, p i flap opening meansrcarried by saidlguide means and movable therealong parallel to the axis iof a 'positioned case', 'said flap opening means 'having a portion positionedon and movable alongan axis extending perpendicular to the longitudi-nal axisrof the case and engageable under a closed end flap, V fiuid'actuated means operatively'engaging and controlling said flap opening means to insert it by straight line move'ment undera closed'end flap and toV move said flap. opening means towardsrthe flap hinge and to swing such meanslthrough aV forward arcitoV open a such closed end flap, and' lock means engaging said last-named meanstorprevent forward arcuate movement of said'flap opening means untlisaid flap opening means reaches an extreme position on said guide means.

4. In combination with a case packer or the like that deposits articles into a stationary cardboardcas'e with aV leading end flap'thereon hingedly connectin'g to theV case and where 'cases are` fed to a' filling position through a Controlled path with their side flaps open; f 1 i a stationary guide means'operatively 'positioned parallel and adjacent a'caselhaving 'a closed leading end ap, i i a I i flap opening means positionedV adjacent'V said guide means and havinga portion adaptedi for horizontal movement to i andV 5b be` engageableunder a closed end flap,

j 'means operativelyengaging and controlling said flap opening means to insert it under a'c'l'osed end flap and to move said flapopening means towards the flap hinge and to swing such means through apforward Varc to open such closed end flap.

5. In combination with a case packer or the like that i deposits articles' into a cardboard caseinitially having "a p closed leadingend flap thereon 'hingedly connectingto the caseat a case filling'station,

a guide'means operatively po'sitioned parallel to and adjacent a case having' a closed'leading end'flap at the case filling. station, Z w f flap opening means carried by said guide means for rela'tive movement therealong,V said flap opening means having a controllable'portion positioned'for straight line Vmovement to engage. under a closed end fi 1p,'aind 'V i. 'o I jj' means operatively engaging and lcontrollingpsaid'flap opening means, to insert saidportionrunderV a closed 'end 'flap-;and to' move said .flap opening means deposit's'articles'into a cardboard'case With a'closed leading end fiap thereon hingedly` connectingto the case, and

i a'guide means forgoperatively positioning parallel to i 'and'adjacent a case having a closed leading end flap,

' Vflap opening means including an a'rm carried Vby said i guide ,means and movableftherealong,said flap openi iing means having a retractable member on said arm engageable under a closed end flap,

piston rod and cylinderrmeans operatively engaging and p controllingV said arm of saidv flap opening means to insert said member under a closed send flap and to move said flap opening means towards the flap'hin'ge 'open such closed end flap, and'V lock means operatively engaging said piston rodjand i cylinder means to prevent' forward arcuate movement of said flap opening means until it reaches an extreme forward position on said guide means; 7. Apparatus for use with a case packer or the like that deposits articles into a cardboard case with a closed leading end flap'thereonhingedly connecting to the case, and comprising 1 p i A i.

aframe, V V` p i jelongate guide means carried by said framefor positioning parallel v'to and adjacent Va case having a i closed leading end flap,-A a w an arm operatively vcarried byl said guide means for movement therealong and pivotal with relation tliereto, p p i i a controllable extensible'and retractable member on f sa'id armengageable under a closed end flap, `piston rod and cylinder means operatively engaging V'and controlling said arm to move said flap opening i means towards therflap hinge and to'swing said arm through a forward ar'c to open 'such closed end flap, and 1 lock means operatively engaging said fpiston rod tand i cylindercmeans to prevent' forward arcuate movement ofl said arm untilit reaches anextreme for- Ward position on ,said guide means. 8.5Apparatus Afor usewith a case packer `or the like that deposits articlesV into a cardboard case with a closed leading end fiappther'eonV Vhingedly connecting to the case, andfc'omprising v w i a'g'uide means adapted to be operatively postoned parallel to'and adjacent a case having'a closed'leading end flap,V a flap opening means including an arm 'carried by said guide Vmeans and movable vtherealong, said flap opening means havingra retractable member on said V'arm engageable undera closed end flap, i piston rod and cylindermeans operatively engaging :and-controlling said arm Iof vsadflap opening means to nsert said member under a closed end flap and 1 to 'move saidflap opening means towards the flap hingeand tovswing such means through a forward 'arc" to opensuch closed end 'flapfV`V a i piston rodV and cylinder vmeans operatively engaging andcontrollin'g said'ar'm of said flap opening means 'to'insert saidV memberunder a closed end flap and to. movejsaid flap opening means towards the flap hinge and tov Vswing such'means through a forward "arc to openi such closed en'diflap,v s 5 a controldi'sc operatively secured to said arm, and s arcuate movement limitation vmeans operatively associated'withsaid control disc, saidpiston rodrbeing connected ;to said karm through said control disc to moversaid flap openingm means on said guide means i. and thenV to move Vsaid arm through a controlledarc. 9. VApparatus as in claim V6 wheresaidarm has a controlV disc operatively seenred Vthereto, said control disc i through a forward arc to opensuch closed endflap. i

6. Apparatus for use with a case packer orlrthe like that i formingV a part of -said lock means, said piston rod'being vconnectedato-said arm through said discto move said flap s and to swing such means through a forward are to opening means on said guide means and then to move said arm through an arc.

19. Apparatus for use With a case packer or the like that deposits articles into a cardboard case With a closed end fiap thereon hingedly connecting to the case, and comprising a guide means for operatively positioning parallel to and adjacent a case having a closed end fiap,

fiap opening means including an arm reciprocably carried by said guide means for movement towards and away from the end fiap hinge, and an extensible and retractable member on said arm engageable under a closed end flap in its extended position,

fiuid actuated means operatively engaging and controlling sad member to extend it and insert it under a closed end fiap,

means engaging said fiap opening means to move it towards the fiap hinge and to swing said arm through an arc to open such closed end fiap, and

lock means operatively connecting said guide means and said arm to prevent arcuate movement of said arm until it reaches its extreme position on said guide means adjacent the fiap hinge.

11. In combination with a case packer or the like that deposits articles into a card'ooard case, initially having open side flaps and a closed end fiap thereon hingedly connecting to the case, at a case filling station,

a guide means operatively positioned parallel to the longitudinal axis of and adjacent a case having a closed end fiap at the case filling station,

fiap opening means carried by said guide means for relative movement therealong towards and from the end fiap hinge, said fiap opening means including a controllably extensible member positioned for movement towards and away from the case and engageable under a closed end fiap, and

means operatively engaging and controlling said fiap opening means to insert said member under a closed end fiap, to move said fiap opening means towards the end fiap hinge, and to move said fiap opening means through an arc towards the end fiap hinge to open such closed end fiap.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,637,958 5/53 Lippmann et al. 53-381 X 2,761,263 9/56 Bruce 53-382 2,890,560 6/59 Nigrelli et al. 53-382 2,9l8,773 12/59 Krupp et al. 53-382 FRANK E. BAILEY, Primary Examiner.

ROBERT A. LEIGHEY, Examiner. 

4. IN COMBINATION WITH A CASE PACKER OR THE LIKE THAT DEPOSITS ARTICLES INTO A STATIONARY CARDBOARD CASE WITH A LEADING END FLAP THEREON HINGEDLY CONNECTING TO THE CASE AND WHERE CASES ARE FED TO A FILLING POSTION THROUGH A CONTROLLED PATH WITH THEIR SIDE FLAPS OPEN, A STATIONARY GUIDE MEANS OPERATIVELY POSITIONED PARALLEL TO AND ADJACENT A CASE HAVING A CLOSED LEADING END FLAP, FLAP OPENING MEANS POSITIONED ADJACENT SAID GUIDE MEANS AND HAVING A PORTION ADAPTED FOR HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT TO BE ENGAGEABLE UNDER A CLOSED END FLAP, AND MEANS OPERATIVELY ENGAGING AND CONTROLLING SAID FLAP OPENING MEANS TO INSERT IT UNDER A CLOSED END FLAP AND TO MOVE SAID FLAP OPENING MEANSD TOWARDS THE FLAP HINGE AND TO SWING SUCH MEANS THROUGH A FORWARD ARC TO OPEN SUCH CLOSED END FLAP. 